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D 9th chord on guitar (D9)
Also called or written D9 or D
D 9th is built from D, F♯, A, C and E. This advanced barre shape at the 9th fret requires a strong index barre and a muted high e string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9
- Root positionD–F♯–A–C–ED910-9-10-9-10-×
- First inversionF♯–A–C–E–DD9/F♯2-0-0-2-1-0
- Second inversionA–C–E–D–F♯D9/Ano shape on this instrument
- Third inversionC–E–D–F♯–AD9/C×-3-2-2-3-2
- Fourth inversionE–D–F♯–A–CD9/E0-0-0-2-1-2
How do you play a D 9th chord on guitar?
D 9th is played at the 9th fret as 10 9 10 9 10 ×: barre your index finger across fret 9, middle finger on the low E string at fret 10, ring finger on the D string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 10. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 3 | C (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 1 (barre) | E (2) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 4 | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret the A string and the G string cleanly while the pinky reaches fret 10 on the B string.
10th fret
D 9th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 10 11 10 12: barre your index finger across fret 10, ring finger on the A string at fret 12, middle finger on the G string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 3 | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 4 | E (2) |
D9/F♯ inversion · 2-0-0-2-1-0 — the easy shape, no barre
D 9th is played in open position as 2 0 0 2 1 0: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The A, D and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (2) |
D9/F♯ inversion · 2-3-0-2-1-0
D 9th is played in open position as 2 3 0 2 1 0: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the G string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The D and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (♭7) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (2) |
D9/F♯ inversion · 2-3-0-2-3-0
D 9th is played in open position as 2 3 0 2 3 0: index finger on the low E string at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 3. The D and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (♭7) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 4 | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (2) |
Why it sounds like that
D 9th combines a D major triad (1, 3, 5) with a minor seventh and a major ninth: 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9. The ♭7 C and 9 E give it a dominant quality. Compare it with D 7th, which lacks the ninth.
What goes wrong with D 9th?
- Letting the index barre collapse so the G string buzzes at fret 9.
- Allowing the high e string to ring open, which adds an unwanted E above the chord.
- Placing the ring finger on the G string instead of the D string, losing the fifth.
When to use it
D 9th functions as the dominant in G major, appearing in progressions like G–C–D–G (I–IV–V–I). It suits blues, funk and jazz-rock. Compare it with D major to hear how the seventh and ninth add tension.
Changing to and from D 9th
- Move to C 9th by sliding the shape down two frets to the 7th fret.
- Move to E♭ 9th by sliding the shape up one fret to the 10th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 9th fret and 10th fret voicings both have D in the bass, but the 10th fret version adds the ninth on top. The D9/F♯ inversion places the third in the bass for a smoother sound.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D 9th written?
D 9th is written as D9. The symbol D9 always means a dominant ninth chord with a minor seventh and a major ninth.
What is the difference between D 9th and D add 9?
D 9th includes the minor seventh C, while D add 9 is a D major triad with the ninth E added and no seventh. The add 9 sounds more consonant and less bluesy.
Why does the D9/F♯ inversion have a different bass note?
The D9/F♯ inversion places the third, F♯, in the bass instead of the root D. This creates a smoother stepwise bass line when moving between chords in G major.